There are few books that I read and instantly know that I will come back to time and time again like a reference manual to my own heart. And this is one of those. 

Sarah Bessey has a way of writing that feels like coffee with an old friend. We’ve never met, and yet her books make me feel seen (I’d like to think this is the Spirit at work in her). 

Church and faith for me have felt like wrestling matches with God the past few years. And not even the romanticized movie battles—I’m talking the nasty, staged and dramatized WWE-style knockdown, drag out fights. I have felt like I have no hope in winning. Yet here comes Sarah with words that clean off the dirt and bandage the wounds. The pain is still there, but the sting is gone. 

After reading this book and Brene Brown’s Braving the Wilderness closely together, I highly recommend pairing them. These two strong women have reminded me over and over and over than I’m not fighting alone. My limp from wrestling with God isn’t shameful. My faith isn’t weak just because it doesn’t look like l was taught it should. God is here loving me despite it all, even (and especially) when I debate if I even believe anymore. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for an advanced copy.